Satire, Youth, and Gender in Contemporary Irish Fiction

This book focuses on the satirical practice of four contemporary Irish writers spanning over three decades: Patrick McCabe, Emer Martin, Alan McMonagle, and Naoise Dolan, and places these writers in the context of a tradition of Irish satirical writing. Drawing on seminal publications in satiric theory and recent research into satire of a more complex and rhetorical nature, the discussion engages with theories related to genre, gender (also viewed through a queer lens), the sociology of literature, philosophy, economics, and posthumanism. This study illuminates both the power of satire and its significance to an understanding of postmodernity before and after the 2008 crash, a pivotal moment in Irish society. The discussion encourages a renewed reading of issues around intersectionality, sexuality, and heteronormativity. It also tries to reinvigorate alternative speculation around current socio-economic, ideological, cultural, and ethical questions, rather than seeking answers. Ultimately, it is intended that this novel cultural approach to Irish capitalism be applied to other experimental novels featuring youthful characters by writers born in Ireland but also beyond.